Captain fantastic

Bobby Cross is Heywood’s man in form, with 343 runs to his name in three unbeaten innings

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Bobby Cross hopes to carry his golden run of form into another hectic personal weekend.

Heywood Cricket Club’s inspirational skipper hit his second successive Central Lancashire League unbeaten century in a 10-wicket win at Unsworth on Saturday, which was followed by a total washout of the Sunday programme when Heywood were due to entertain champions Norden.

That came on the back of his record-breaking 154 at home to Oldham the previous week.

And, with 87 not out in the Lancashire KO Cup defeat at Bamford Fieldhouse sandwiched inbetween, that takes his aggregate in his last three innings to 343 without being dismissed.

Now Cross will be aiming to help extend Heywood’s great start to the season at Rochdale tomorrow (Friday) in the final group match of the John Willie Lees Twenty20 Cup (6.15pm).

The following day sees a trip to Ashton as Heywood bid to protect, and possibly extend, their three-point lead over Walsden at the top of the CLL (1.30).

And, on Sunday, Cross and in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Danny Pawson are in the CLL side which takes on the Bolton League at Middleton in the first round of the Reader Inter-League competition (1.30pm).

For 29-year-old Cross, it’s one on his most productive spells even by his own high standards, and he said of his effort at Unsworth: “I knew I was in reasonable form and was determined to bat the overs and be there at the end.

“My dad was a professional footballer who said his job was to score goals. His best advice to me has been that I am there to score runs and at the moment I am enjoying it and looking forward to the next game.

“I remember back in 2003 that I scored hundreds in successive games on the same weekend but I can’t recall three innings in a row like this.

“It is pleasing, obviously, but the more important thing for me is that the team continues to pick up the points. In that respect, it doesn’t matter who gets the runs – it’s all about Heywood.

“That’s why it was so pleasing to come back from Unsworth and find out that the second team had managed to get their victory by just one run and continue their great start, too.

“There is such a good feeling going around the club and I don’t think there is any doubt that comes on the back of the success of the NatWest CricketForce weekend just before the start of the season.”

One player missing from the first team at Unsworth was Lee Grogan, who had played in the first six games, but got married to Alex on the same day.

Grogan was demoted to the second team for their scheduled game at Norden on Sunday – the newlyweds are taking their honeymoon at a later date – and Cross was quick to praise him for his reaction.

“His attitude at being put into the second team has been absolutely fantastic,” said Cross. “He was so pleased at how both teams had gone on during his wedding day, was one of the first at the club on Sunday, and was so disappointed that he didn’t get chance to play in the second team at Norden.”

One setback for Heywood came with the third team losing their Frank Bailey Trophy semi-final at Flixton on a bowl out during the Sunday monsoons.